The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-10-20
POLLY'S BISCUIT.
BY ELIZABETH P. ALLAN.

'ne Je"eler case sne was bending over
and saw Mr.. McIlwaine standing at hei
side.
"Why shouldn't l buy to-day ?" she
cried. IL have had this hundred dollars
IN gold for almost a year, Mr. McIlwaine
trying to make up my mind what
wanted most now my birthday is almost
here again, and | am afraid grandpa will
make this do for two birthdays, if don't
hurry and spend it,"
But Polly's gay little laugh was
checked by look of unmstakable com
passion In the genteman's ewes. The
color faded little from her bright young
face, hut she would not ask any questions
here IN the crowded store.
I" You may put them back to-day, Mr.
West" she said to the jeweler. "Pll
come again tomorrow"
Very well, Miss Rutherford" said the
vexed salesman, concealing his disap
pointment, Il shall reserve them for
you."
Polly left the tempting store with Mr..
Mcllwalne, and on the street turned upon
him pair of frank, questioning eyes,
which he found hard to answer
Paul Mclwaine was friend of the
rutherford family; but not specially OF
little Polly; she was only sixteen, mere
child to the hardworking lawyer OF
thirty, and one whom he considered as
altogether frivolous and empty. Polly
was an only daughter, living with a wild
owed mother in her grandfather's elegant
house, and if she was not spoiled girl it
was not the fault of the doting old grand
father, whose idol she had been from her
babyhood.
"What did you mean, Mr.. Nell
wane z" she asked, presently, finding
that the questioning look brou ght no re-
ply. And then, seeing how embarra >aed
he seemed about answering, she said, with
a sudden fear, " Have you been at grand
pas since left? |, anything thu mat
ter"
They are ali WELL" he sail, ans xer-
ing the thought which lie kn.w was in
her mind, =" but something has Happened,
Polly, Of coarse, or would not have iu-
tertercd with your purchase"
ooh tell me-, tell me- said the girl in
an agitatcd voice. "Why do you KEEP
ME III suspense:
"Wlat a bIundercr I am" thou.h.
her companou. eff tell her out here
on the street, there will be a scene; Dut
I'm in for it now, and if | don't tell her
suppose there will be scene; that's the
way with these fine young ladies'"
1T is a hard thing to say to you,
Polly, but your grandfather has failed :"
Failed" repeated Polly, vaguely,
"you mean he has lost his money? Is
that all? Is that what you We're afraid
to tell me =
"That 'all means a good deal more
than you seem to understand" said Paul
McIlwaine, impatiently; it means loss
and grief and disappointment and pow
erty TO one Of the best gentlemen in the
world; it. means hard work to your
mother who has no strength for work !;
to YOU"
He stopped, and Polly said quickly,
feeling the tinge of contempt in his tone ::
"Never mind about me, but | see now
how bad it will be; poor grandpa! Mr..
McIlwane wilany body else
lose by grandpa's tailureI''
cit is too soon to say positively" he
replied, "but think not. think be has
quit business in time to save his credit
ors any appreciable loss"
Polly's head was up now, and her eyes
shining. "Dear old grandpa" she said,
"bless his heart; l am ashamed that
asked the question | might have known.
But, oh Pm 80 much obliged to you for
keeping me from spending my hundred
dollars; it was very kind of you, very
/ don't know how you came to find me-
How long have you known about grand
pa?"
1t only came out this morning, and
took us all entirely by surprise. But
here we are at your door; good-by, my
dear if can be of service to you in any
way, (he had meant to offer her money,
but he was suddenly afraid to speak of
such thing to the spirited-looking girl
before him. remembering the long init
macy between our families give me right
to help you."
"Thank you," she said, simply; it
was all she had voice for, and, using
her latchkey, she let herself into the
house.
"Bless me p said the young lawyer,
as he walked of, "but the poor girl has
pluck! 1t was very pretty, and entirely
womanly, too, the way she thought of
others, her grandfather and the creditors
l didn't think little Polly had it in her"
If he had seen little Polly at this min
ute, he might not have thought she had
40 much in her; she had slipped noise
lessly into the great handsome front par
lor and dropped down on one of the low
cushioned divans, call in heap" as the
girls say. For two whole hours she kept
herself hid in the parlor, nobody knowing
she was in the house, and in that long, si-
lent time, when she heard only the tink-
ling little bronze clock, and her own IT.
regular breathing, something happened
to Polly, almost like what happens to the
moth when it comes ont of the cocoon.
1t happened to the Polly that was hid
away inside of the Polly that everybody
knew and who shall say but that this
great, startling change of fortune was not
sent to keep that inside Polly from being
smothered aud dwarfed by the outside
Polly!
When she went to find her mother and
grandfather, it was with bright face and
steady voice.
A few days after this, Polly brought
up a dainty little breakfast to her
mother, who was quite overcome by
their disaster, as was the poor old grand
father"
"Come, mither," Polly said blithely,
"I made these biscuits, and you've got
to eat two. What good thing it was
&h.. vou had that hobby about teaching